Searching For the Image

I used to drive a lot. To and from work was over an hour each way. The way to work was usually filled with mentally planning my day and podcasts. But the way home was usually a slog. I just wanted to hurry up and get home. But one day after a particularly long day, I relaxed my eyes and let the lights of the west-bound traffic hypnotize me. That gave me the impetus to try and capture the dazzle of long drives home after dusk.

This long-exposure photograph captures the colorful and dynamic light trails taken from my car along I-70 in Maryland.

These long drives home allowed me to experiment with extended shutter speeds ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes in length, which gave stationary and moving lights—like westbound headlights and taillights —to create graceful streaks across the image.

What started as a way to pass the time, turned into a creative example of how long-exposure photography can transform everyday scenes into dynamic art.